Household Consumer Expenditure by an Average Rural and Urban Indian for the year 2011-12

 

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the key indicators of household consumer expenditure in India, generated from the data collected during July 2011–June 2012 in its 68^th round survey just recently.

Some salient findings of the survey relating to monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) based on modified mixed reference period (MMRP) are as follows:

1.       The all-India estimate of average MPCE was around Rs.1430 for rural India and about Rs.2630 for urban India. Thus average urban MPCE was about 84% higher than average rural MPCE for the country as a whole, though there were wide variations in this differential across States.

2.       For rural India, the 5^th  percentile of the MPCE distribution was estimated as Rs.616 and the 10^th  percentile as Rs.710. The median MPCE was Rs.1198. Only about 10% of the rural population reported household MPCE above Rs.2296 and only 5% reported MPCE above Rs.2886.

3.       For urban India, the 5^th  percentile of the MPCE distribution was Rs.827 and the 10^th percentile, Rs.983. The median MPCE was Rs.2019. Only about 10% of the urban population reported household MPCE above Rs.4610 and only 5% reported MPCE above Rs.6383.

4.       For the average rural Indian, food accounted for 52.9% of the value of consumption during 2011-12. This included 10.8% for cereals and cereal substitutes, 8% for milk and milk products, 7.9% on beverages, refreshments and processed food, and 6.6% on vegetables. Among non-food item categories, fuel and light for household purposes (excluding transportation) accounted for 8%, clothing and footwear for 7%, medical expenses for 6.7%, education for 3.5%, conveyance for 4.2%, other consumer services (excl. conveyance) for 4%, and consumer durables for 4.5%.

5.       For the average urban Indian, 42.6% of the value of household consumption was accounted for by food, including 9% by beverages, refreshments and processed food, 7% by milk and milk products, and 6.7% by cereals and cereal substitutes. Education accounted for 6.9%, medical accounted for 5.5%, fuel and light for 6.7%, conveyance for 6.5%, clothing & footwear for 6.4%, other consumer services (excl. conveyance) for 5.6%, durable goods for 5.3% and rent for 6.2%. Taxes and cesses account for just 0.8%.

6.     Comparatively, for an average rural Indian incur more consumption expenditure in proportion on food items except fruits and beverages, medical, intoxicants, fuel and light and clothing & footwear